Lighting-fixture support



Jume 3 1924'.

A. c. HOFR'IC HTER LIGI'I'IJING FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed Dec. 4, 1922 ATTORNEY}? 'omw g Patented June 3, 1924-.

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ALBERT C. HOFRICHTER, .01. Ll kKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OBESCENT BRASS PRODUCTSCOMPANY, QF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COR/PORATIGN OF OHIO.

LIGHTING-FIXTURE sorron'r.

Application filed December 4, 1922. Serial No. 604,714.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT G. Hon RICHTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lakewood, county of Cuya hoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lighting- Fixture Supports, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions. I

The present invention relates to an insulated coupling and more particularly to an improved form" of coupling particularly adapted for use in supporting an electric fixture from a wall or ceiling. The arrangement of parts in the supporting means and coupling is such as to completely insulate the fixture and its parts from the wall box or crowfoot and at the same time furnish a coupling that will be capable of a certain amount of universal adjustment. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may beused.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a coupling showing a ceiling crowfoot arrangement; Fig. 2 is a broken elevational View of the insulated plug and tubular support; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the coupling mounted in a wall box.

In the form shown in Fig. 1 there is a crowfoot 1 attached to the wall or ceiling in the usual manner, the crowfoot having the usual central aperture 2 in its base for the wires 3 and having the usual threaded aperture 4 in the projecting portion 5, the wires passing between the legs 6 of the crowfoot.

The present coupling consists of a plug 7 of insulating material such as hard rubber, fiber or the like having a threaded upper end 8 adapted to be screwed into the aperture 4 in the crowfoot and at the lower end the plug is provided with a horizontal aperture 9. A hollow supporting tube'lO forms the lower portion of the coupling, this tube being formed with a circumferential groove 11 adjacent the top and the groove is provided with two holes 12 adapted to be aligned with the ends of the aperture 9 through the plug. To support the tube from the plug a pin 13 is mounted through the aperture 9 with the ends extending through the holes 12 and the ends are upset to form heads 1a which will lie within the groove 11 but which will not pass through the holes 12. Thus the tube is free to swing about the ends of the pin and theholes'12 are made larger than the pin 13 so that the tube may be moved slightly at any angle in order to allow the same to hang vertically regardless of ceiling inequalities. i

The tube 10 is provided below the plug with a large aperture 15 adapted to allow the wires 3 to enter the tube and at its lower end the tube is provided with a link 16 to which the usual supporting chain may be attached. In the usual construction airinverted canopy or bell 17 is mounted on the tube and is adapted to fit against the ceil ing to enclose the crowfoot and coupling and this bell is held in place by a ring or separate collar 18 mounted on the tube and a-djustably secured by a set screw 19. This collar is preferably made of fibre or equivalent insulating material as shown, and is formed so as to present a shoulder 18 with which. the lower end of the bell engages and by which any electrical contact between same and the tube is prevented. Such tube, it will accordingly be seen, is doubly insulated from the ceiling.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the coupling comprising the plug 7 and tube 10 is identical with the first form but is shown as being mounted in a wall box 20, which is provided with a threaded nipple 2'1 projecting from the bottom of the box. 011 this nipple is mounted a coupling nut 22 having two threaded apertures, one adapted to be threaded onto the nipple and the other adapted to receive the threaded end 8 of the plug 7 In this construction the wires normally enter the box at the side and are brought down along the tube to the aperture 15 in the tube.

Thus, as shown, the fixture is completely insulated from the supporting crowfoot, outlet box or the like and at the same time is supportedtherefrom in such a manner as to allow full swinging action in one plane and small angular movement in any other vertical plane. The Wires enter the tube be low the coupling and are of course covered with insulation so that the supporting tube for the fixture is entirely insulated.

The present coupling is readily and easily connected to the supporting" box or crowfoot and the construction of the coupling is simple and inexpensive'to manufacture and yet such as will readily adapt it to various types of ornamental fixtures without injuring the. appearance intended to be produced thereby.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a lighting fixture, the combination With a ceiling support having a threaded aperture; of an insulated coupling comprising a plug of insulating material having a threaded upper end adapted to be engaged in such threaded aperture; and a hollow tube having a circumferential groove, said tube being supported from said plug by a headed pin passing through said plug and holes in said groove and having the heads lying in said groove, said tube having an aperture below the groove adapted to receive the Wiring.

2. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a ceiling support having a threaded aperture; of an insulated coupling comprising a. plug of insulating material having a threaded upper end adapted to be engaged in such threaded aperture, and a hollow tube having a circumferential groove, said tube being supported from said plug by a. headed pin passing through said plug and holes in said groove and having the heads lying in said groove, the holes in the groove being larger than said pin to allow slight angular movement of said tube, the latter being provided with a Wire receiving aperture below said groove.

Signed by me this 1st day of December, 1922.

ALBERT C. HOFRICHTER. 

